The Pet Person

This duo produce wonderful picture books in such short order that one wonders how they can possibly keep up the pace. In a turn-about story that is only too believable, Rex, a puppy, desperately wants a ‘pet person’ for his birthday. Mum says no, Dad says no, even uncles and aunts and grandparents say no, but Rex is not to be deterred. In spite of his relatives’ tales of people being vicious, smelly, impossible to train, and likely to ruin the furniture, Rex goes out and finds a lonely-looking ginger person. At first everything goes well and they have great fun together. But soon Rex begins to discover that his new ‘pet’ has most of the characteristics that his family has told him about. What will he do? He can’t seem to get rid of him. The denouement when it comes is unexpected and laugh-out-loud funny. There is even a final surprise too! As always with Ross, the illustrations are a delight, with lots of tiny details that show clearly his anarchic tendencies: Father burying bones in the garden in neat rows while baby sister whacks moles on the head, grandmother carrying out a smelly basket in which grandfather has deposited something unmentionable while telling Rex that people develop ‘embarrassing habits’ as they grow older. It’s all great stuff, and may even convince the occasional family that having a new pet might not be the life style accoutrement they think it is.